How to Animate with Keynote

Monday, October 4, 2010

Blogger and Art Director at Christ Community Church in Nebraska, Robert Murphy has posted some incredible animations that were done completely in Keynote

The first video example is a mini cartoon of the Bible story of Jonah. We wish he’d gone into a bit more detail on how this one was made and animated (maybe he’ll post another blog entry with better details?), but if you’re looking for inspiration, this blog will certainly help.

Several of the other examples have some tips on what was done to make what you’re seeing, so overall the article is well worth the read.

Update, I reread the blog post and the Jonah animation wasn’t done in Keynote. There’s ONE sentence that clarifies that, and if you don’t catch it, you would think it was done in Keynote. Still, the post is worth the read.

The Jonah animation was NOT done in Keynote—he said in his won blog about that piece that he used that animation as inspiration for some things he could later do in Keynote. His blog specifically states that it was done in Flash. Many of the “animations” in that video are not capable in Keynote.

Keynote has serious limitations compiling animations, sounds, transitions and multiple movements at one time. It’s pretty slick considering it hasn’t been around very long, but “South Park-esque” animations is not yet in it’s toolbox.